Do Health Apps Benefit Healthy People?

By
Paige Brettingen

October 22, 2016

These days, if we’re not wearing a device that’s tracking our daily steps, chances are we’re using our phones to keep tabs on our fitness goals. But one medical journal is questioning whether these health apps and trackers are actually beneficial, especially for those who are already leading a healthy lifestyle. The report published in The BMJ—a British medical journal—believes that health and fitness apps could cause some harm by fueling unnecessary anxiety. “The truth is that these apps and devices are untested and unscientific, and they will open the door of uncertainty,” said Dr. Des Spence, who provided commentary for The BMJ article. However, not all medical practitioners agree—arguing that there’s nothing wrong with extra encouragement to exercise or eat well. Our takeaway? If a particularly fitness app is working for you, there's no need to kick it to the curb, especially on those days when motivation is lacking. But it’s equally important to keep a healthy perspective. If you don’t make it to 10,000 steps one day, so what? It's certainly not worth ruining your week.